Coordinating United States time and frequency standards with other world standards.

Providing time and frequency services for United States clientele.

Performing research in support of improved standards and services.

Precise time and frequency information is needed by electric power companies, radio and television stations, telephone companies, air traffic control systems, participants in space exploration, computer networks, scientists monitoring data of all kinds, and navigators of ships and planes. These users need to compare their own timing equipment to a reliable, internationally recognized standard. NIST provides this standard for the United States.